The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1887-08-25
THE OTHER SIDE.
4 WORD ABOUT AN AGRgCCL-
TURAL COLLEGE e FROM THE
-OTHER SIDE"
The Importance Of Discussing the
Question from all Points Of View.

~ II s0GNE--
The Importance of Discussing the
Question from all Points Of View.
To the Editor of The Neavs ard
Courier The question how we can
best educate young men in order to
fit them for life, and for its two-fold
struggle, partly against the adverse
forces of nature, and partly
against the ever increasing intellec-
tual and industrial competition of
other trained communities, should
most deeply engage every thoughtful
and patriotic citizen Of the State.
AS this duty to the rising generation
is one of the gravest that can posi-
bly arise in the whole category of
individual, social and civic respon-
sibilities, it should be approached
seriously, gravely, earnestly, reyer-
emily, with an entire freedom from
prejudice and passion, and an eye
single to the ascertainment of truth.
Unfortunately the question of educa-
ton has not heretofore been con-
sidered in the earnest, patriotic
spirit.
The present controversy lit can
scarcely be called discussion) over
the best methods of education of
youth in the studies ''pertsining 10
agriculture and the mechanic arts
bids fair to 60 the way of all others
of it's kind, and to be decided not on
it's merits, but in accordance with the
way in which 1t affects conflicting in
dividual or local interests. Now if
this discussion were unimportant,
so that no great harm would result
from a decision in any direction, the
public could afford to leave few
disnutants to fight it out. But mas
much as South Carolina has always
been, and most probably always will
be, an agricultural State in spite of
booms and tariffs and other alleged
''diversifying Influences" so that her
chief wealth will be derived directly
from the soil by the toll and sweat
of a large proportion of her people,
it is a manifest necessity that this
problem Of the improvement of her
extracted industries be solved with
correctness and solved with dis
patch.
In the fierce competition of the day
the State has DO time to lose. But
blunder may be worse than 8
crime. A false step may cost her
thousands Of dollars directly and
millions in itsconsequehces. She is,
therefore, compelled to avoid apathy
on the one hand and too great haste on
the other. She must act promptly,
but she must act wisely. She must
be sure she is right and then go
ahead. I sincerely hope that the
discussion of this question will be-
come general. Full and free debate
IS the safeguard of republic. TIE
sovereign people may be trusted when
they understand, but people misled
is dangerous tyrant. give credit
for sincerity and honesty of purpose
to all WHO have thus far had anything
to say upon the subject. I take it
for granted that they Lave no desire
to propagate error or to win their
cause in any other way than by sound
reason based on undisputed facts.
Nevertheless the public demands
in it's OWE interests that those who
assume to teach must first thorough
" scouaint themselves with their
subject; or that if they fail in this,
then mistakes must be pointed out
hN some one else. In the interest of
truth, and Of serious, candid, dis
passionate discussion of this i'm
portant measure, I desire to correct
some of the errors Of fact, express or
implied, that have crept into the
discussion.
1t has recently been stated by seve'
raj persons and papers that unless
the State establishes special agri
cultural college she cannot secure the
benefits of the Congressional ''Hatci
Act" which appropiates $4,000 s
year for agricultural and scientific
experimentation. Whether this is
true or not can be seen by reference
to the following sections of the Hatct
Act as passed:
Section /. Be it enacted, &C.
That in order to aid in acquiring and
difrusing among the people of ths
United States useful and practlca
information on subjects connected
with agriculture, there shall be es
tablished under direction Of the col
leges or agricultural departments O.
colleges in each State or Territory
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